Recent Empties: Shower.

Hair:

L'Oreal Elvive Nutrigloss Sparkling Conditioner: I was sucked in by the new product advertising and purchased the matching shampoo which I am yet to finish. The shampoo is so pretty- a pink jelly with sparkles! The conditioner however is not so pretty, just a plain creamy milky pink in colour, and to be honest it made my hair feel soft like any conditioner would, but also quite heavy and weighed down even though I had rinsed it all out. I didn't like it, and won't be buying it again. 

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner: This I bought after using it back in September (full review here), it softened my hair and made it easier to comb through. As deep conditioners go, it is a good one, but as always the tub size doesn't last me that long!

Charles Worthington Mineral Hair Rescue: I loved this. This was really effective in what it did, it wasn't as heavy as other conditioners and a little seemed to go a long way. I noticed good results with this and will buy it again.


Body:

L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil: (Full review here) This is a wonderful, luxury product. It smells like almonds in a nutty way, rather than an amaretto way. It lathers nicely, though not greatly, leaves skin feeling clean and soft and best of all is is paraben and SLS-free.

Original Source Vanilla Milk and Raspberry Shower Gel: I adore the smell and consistency of this. It is so foamy, yet it still feels gentle on the skin. I try not to buy this often, but it is on offer quite a lot and I can't always justify splashing out on the more expensive, kind to skin shower gels.

Burt's Bees Fabulously Fresh Peppermint and Rosemary Body Wash: (Full Review here) This is a good value for money shower gel, it's free from nasty ingredients and it's 350ml lasts a long time. The scent is fresh and herby, and it lathers and foams really well. The scent lingers on your skin for a little while too, I love that fresh feeling.

Original Source Lemon and Tea Tree Shower Gel: Just a small travel size shower gel I took with me when I was staying in London for a week. It's so so, not as nice as the vanilla milk and raspberry one, and again, I do try and avoid SLS as much as I can. 

Thanks for reading,

E.

Midweek Post: Fudge Root Juice

Fudge 'Root Juice', £7 for 250ml from Hairtrade.com

I am in constant dilemmas with my hair, what I want from it changes from day to day. Back when I was 15 or 16, me and my friends (girls and boys alike) were all for backcombing, backcombing, backcombing, layering on the hairspray and fraying our ends in the process. Think Pete Doherty (ala 2006) + Duff Mckagan  X too many hours spent on MySpace = me. I am glad I am past that time in my life, but it will forever be a part of me and I have a real soft spot for big hair. I cannot do it like the Liverpool glamour girls, I will never walk the streets with a weave full of plaits, braids and rollers (though plenty of kudos for the effort.) 

I want something in between, I don't want big Barbie hair but I also want something better than my flat roots. Introducing Fudge Root Juice. I have found something to give me texture and determinable volume, though it has taken a few uses to perfect.

On first use, I applied generous amounts to the roots of my hair, post-wash and pre-blow dry (as the directions state.) After my hair had been dried I was disappointed- my hair looked like it had been dragged through a hedge backwards- it was fluffy and unruly and the roots looked greasy. I had been a bit heavy handed.

Since then I have learnt that, as with most things in life- less is more. Root Juice is a mousse that is applied from a nozzle- which gives the control back to you. Small squirts of product in a few key areas followed by plenty of hair oil on the ends and a blow dry means that my hair has a bit of 'oomph' in the roots- which is good for wearing my hair down as there is some (but not too much) volume but also helpful if I am going to wear my hair in a messy top knot as there is already a boost at the root.

A big pro of this product is that my hair doesn't get greasier any quicker than it normally would, a factor I always worry about when trying something new. I was quite surprised, especially because it is a product applied to the roots- but I can leave the same amount of time between washes using this as when I am not. A definite plus point for somebody like me or who is quite short on time most of the week.

EHD.

This product was sent for me to review. Hairtrade.com is one of the UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. You can order this product by clicking here.

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment

Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment, £3.40 for 10ml from Hairtrade.com.

I have never used an oil specifically designed for hair before so I am just a wee bit late to the party. My hairdresser has used Morroccan Oil on me with every visit but I have never taken the plunge so when I had the opportunity to try this Macadamia Oil I jumped at it! They're similar in consistency- a fairly thick oil that doesn't weigh down the hair or make it greasy- which I think is always a concern when dabbling in hair products, especially something oily. It absorbs into wet hair and makes drying time quicker too.

I have been impressed by this. It keeps the ends of my hair feeling soft and nourished rather than frazzled after a blow dry and the ends remain silky soft until I wash my hair next. It doesn't leave behind an icky residue and is so easy to use! It does contain silicone which is my only gripe with this product (thanks to Fran for pointing that out). Similarly to Moroccan oil I feel they are branded and marketed as natural products, and while they do contain natural products, they're not 100% one ingredient. It can be a little misleading but I imagine wouldn't bother most people, hell it doesn't bother me as long as it does the job, I just think something called 'Macadamia Healing Oil Treatment' sounds a little more pure or organic than it probably is.

You can buy it for only £3.40 for a 10ml sample, a size like that is an excellent way to try out hair oils without spending around the £30 mark for something I wasn't sure I would really like or take to using. P.S. don't assume that this is only for over processed, frazzled or heat damaged hair. Hair oil is suitable for all hair types (including oily) and will help maintain a soft and polished finish!

This product was sent for me to review. Hairtrade.com is one of the UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. You can order this product by clicking here

Empty Products- The November Edition.

I'm baack! Time to show you what I finished last month, what I thought of 'em, and whether I'll buy it again! Any questions you have about any of the products leave me a comment below and I'll get back to you.

Boots 'Smooth Care' Facial Hair Removal Cream- Oh yeah, I'm going there. It may be TMI for some people but I love this product way more than the Veet option. It's a hair removal cream especially designed for hair on the face, I use it on my upper lip as I don't like getting it waxed (the upkeep is too much/the hair will grow back uneven or coarse/I don't really want to walk around town with a red strip above my lip) nor do I like getting it threaded when I could save a whole lot of money and do it myself. The tube has lasted me a long time (let's say a year because it has a 12month expiry) and I think it is effective at what it does and a good price too. I don't experience any irritation or sensitivity after using this and it is a bargain.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

Emma Hardie 'Amazing Face Natural Lift and Sculpt Moringa Cleansing Balm'- This was a free sample, it was 15ml and came with an Emma Hardie facecloth. The sample lasted me approximately a week being used twice a day which is pretty good. I absolutely loved it, the whole process of using a balm to cleanse with feels so luxurious and this product really seems to pamper the skin, plus I experienced no negative side effects. See a more indepth review by clicking here.
Will I buy this?
Oh fo' sho'

REN Hydra-Calm Cleansing Milk- Luckily I didn't pay for this as it was a 30ml sample. I first noticed how strong it's scent was, it was so intense and not particularly pleasent and for review purposes I tried it removing a full face of makeup. It removed makeup really well but three days after using this twice a day my skin broke out like I have never experienced in my life. I have never had a big problem with spots and at the age of 23 I never expected to have such a break out, my diet or liestyle hadn't changed and that was the only new face product I was using that week. I don't want to blame the cleanser but I don't know what else it could be. For empties sake I used it to the end, I wanted to prove myself wrong but my skin worsened. It has put me off the brand completely. Has anyone else experienced this?
Will I buy this?
No. Even if it didn't cause the breakout, I hated the smell. Too strong.

Liz Earle Instant Boost Skin Tonic- This was a 50ml sample that came with a cleanse and polish that I ordered online. I adore the smell, it smells a bit like baby products. In a good way, haha. It contains some gorgeous ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin e, and cucumber and is alcohol free which is a must have in a skin toner, too many contain harsh alcohols ready to strip your skin! This really soothes the skin after cleansing or exfoliating and makes the skin feel healthy and supple.
Will I buy this?
Yes, I treated myself.

Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Eye Cream- I do think this is worth the £36 price tag, as it seems to have done wonders for my partner. He now uses it religiously! In texture this is a thick balm, which is a consistency I prefer in eye cream than to a thin lotion. My fiance has suffered with eczema for years and developed dry, flaky skin all around his eyes which is heightened in the colder months. Since using this every night he has experieced no flakiness or flare ups around his eyes and I do think it is due to this product. I enjoy using it too, though I can't see a huge difference on me.
Will I buy this again?
Yes, we both use it and it seems to help maintain his skin in a good condition.

Clinique 'All About Eyes' Eye Cream- This was a sample in a recent GWP. I'm always a bit wary of Clinique skincare, it is so laden with chemicals. The number 2 clarifying toner is an amazing stain remover....therefore it's not going anywhere near my face.
We had run out of the eye cream mentioned above so thought we'd use this in the mean time. It's a light consistency that feels like a lotion or moisturiser, it absorbs well and leaves the under eyes feeling a bit fresher. This didn't last us long so I can't comment on whether it improved my under eyes, but it didn't seem to do anything for Ben and his sore skin!
Will I buy this again?
No.

Estee Lauder DayWear Moisturiser- This was a sample pot in the most recent Gift With Purchase. I like the cucumber scent this has but I would definitely recommend the oil free version over this one, it never seems to absorb like I want it to, always leaving a slight film on the skin! I never notice any benefits or bad points when using this, it is just average. I have used up a 50ml tub in the past but I can't say I love this or would want to use it again.
Will I buy this again?
No.

John Frieda Full Repair 'Perfect Ends Sheer Mist'- This is similar to most heat protection products I have used in the past and seemed to do it's job well, it helped maintain a smooth feeling to my hair. I did notice it held the blowdry well too, which is a huge bonus. I think the bottle is too small though...
Will I buy this?
I don't think so.

Batiste Dry Shampoo in 'Cherry'- It's in my empties every month. I think it does a good job for the price, and I like the cherry scent the best.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

Soap and Glory Hand Maid Gel-  Antibacterial Hand Gel is an absolute must have for me and this one by Soap and Glory is my favourite. While it removes any nasties your hands may have picked up, anitbacterial hand gel is self absorbing so you don't have to worry about rubbing it off afterwards as you would with normal soap. This one has a really nice scent which completely counteracts the high intensity smell of alcohol present in other hand gels. I really hate having dirty hands or feeling like they might be dirty, so this is a definite repurchase for me.
Will I buy this again?
Already have!

As always, let me know if you use any of these and what you think and link me to your empties posts because I lurrve reading them!

Clynol Sealed Ends Fluid Review.

Clynol Repair Caress Sealed Ends Fluid, £8.37 for 75ml here.

After just three uses of this product I was in awe of the difference I could feel on my hair, it's not often you can feel almost instant results with a hair product. I've since been using it daily and my experiences with it so far have been positive, I've been looking forward to sharing it with you all!

I was attracted to Clynol because of it's dedication to creating salon quality hair at an affordable price. The ingredients in this Sealed Ends Fluid excite me; it contains macadamia and olive oil, marula and argan oils along with sweet almond and and apricot kernal. These active ingredients help restore and protect the ends of hair against further damage.

Sealed Ends Fluid is a gooey white serum that you massage into the ends of your hair to help combat dryness and split ends. The packaging states it can be used on wet or dry hair, and while I am normally dubious to put wet products on dry hair it was actually absorbed fairly quickly and was weightless afterwards. The ends of my hair look glossier and they feel nourished. 
Though it is hard to comment on it's long term benefits as I have only been using it for three weeks, I am impressed so far and will continue to use this to see how much the condition of my hair improves.

In times where money is short for many, a product like this could help prolong the time inbetween haircuts as it helps prevents the ends of the hair from looking shabby and uncared for. I do get my hair cut every 2-3 months, so while the ends of my hair aren't in a particularly unkempt condition, they do split quickly due to dryness from long term hair dye and constant straightening.
I would recommend this product for you girls out there who have dry ends from dye or bleach, or overstyled hair which suffers from heat damage. I've been using this product after washing my hair with The Body Shop's banana shampoo and conditioner which are really gentle and soften my hair, and this Clynol fluid seems to work with them well as it helps prolong the softness and works on repair inbetween washes.
  

Have you tried any products from Clynol? Would you be tempted to try this?

This product was sent for me to review. Hairtrade.com is one of the UK's leading online retailers of hair extensions, hair care and beauty products. You can order this product by clicking here.

Mini haul- The Body Shop.

 
I've not bought from The Body Shop in ages so was well due a visit. I got a 50% off code to use online but it expired before payday which was a huge shame as I had quite a few things in my basket. I decided what I really wanted to try and just went and got them, thankfully I've not been disappointed!

Banana Shampoo £4.50 for 250ml- While this doesn't lather particularly well (only on the second wash) it does cleanse the hair and rinses easily. I love the sweet banana smell but it isn't overpowering or too heavy.

Banana Conditioner £4.50 for 250ml - This creamy product feels good on my hair and keeps it really soft. Unfortunately it doesn't help with my knotty hair (anyone have any tips for knotty hair? The tangle teezer does nowt for me.) It is like banana puree in consistency, I always feel like I should be feeding it to a baby, not putting it on my hair! This is light and gentle enough to put all over the hair should you wish to.

While this shampoo and conditioner duo don't particularly brighten or make my hair glossier, it is the softest I have felt it in a very long time. And I'm talking baby soft, people! The natural ingredients must be nourishing it nicely and both wash out well, there's no heavy feeling to my hair (which I hate!) and no residue left behind, they both seem very gentle and for this reason I give them a thumbs up and would definitely recommend them to people who may suffer with a sensitive scalp.

Beautifying Oil in Coconut £9 for 100ml- Yes, so far so good with this one! I'm not sure it has done much for my hair, but it makes my skin feel smooth and soft and doesn't take too long to soak in so is great to whip on after a morning shower. I absolutely adore the smell this leaves on my skin; it's feminine, warm and tropical so is great used on it's own but it also doesn't react to any perfumes I've applied afterwards. The skin loving ingredient of marula oil also contains anti oxidents which is a bonus! I imagine this would be lovely to take on a summer holiday to top up that 'holiday smell' and keep the skin looking supple. 

Do you use any of these? Are you a fan of The Body Shop?

 

Midweek Post: Goe Oil

Jao 'Goe Oil', £30 for 85g.

Jao are a company committed to producing 100% natural, multipurpose products. When I saw Goe Oil on a stand in London Liberty's with the words 'oil' 'multipurpose' and 'natural' I knew I had to have it. A quick whiff of it's Tahitian Monoi scent (to me this smells like sweet lemon) and it was sold!

The ingredients:

Goe Oil contains 28 different natural plant oils and butters including Jojoba, Avocado, Chamomile, Rose Hip and Mango butter. It's completely free from any naughties such as parabenns, mineral oils/petroleum and artifical perfumes.
It contains a very high concentration of Jojoba Oil which is likened to human sebum. Sebum naturally protects our skin and hair, so by including a natural equivelant this product actually replaces the oils and sebum that we lose through age and environmental stressors, keeping our skin healthy and plump!

The uses:

Jao describe their product as a 'lifesaver'. Here are some of the uses that they believe Goe Oil is perfect for-  softening cuticles and rough skin such as elbows and feet, hair styling, to soften freshly shaved legs, eye makeup remover (this I am yet to try). chapped skin and to make bald heads shiny (again, not one I can comment on.)

I can't use this every day because the absorbing process is lengthly, I have to allow around 40 minutes for this to soak in to a point where I can then get on with my day without feeling oily or sticky! It's thicker than other oils I have used, it comes out of the tube a solid butter but melts to oil when it is warmed on the skin. Once it has soaked in, my skin feels unbelievably soft and the beneficial effects can be felt days later. I'm currently using this once a week, and topping my skin up with lighter oils inbetween (at the moment I am using The Body Shop Coconut Beautifying Oil)

So far so good?

So far, so completely good. I love the feeling of applying this product to my skin. I love the smell and it's softening, nourishing effects. I'm going to continue using it and I think I'll do an update post in about three months time to let you know how I am finding it and if my skin has improved.

If you're interested in Jao's story you can read about it here. If you wanted to buy Goe Oil but aren't local to Liberty then I have seen this available on Amazon.

Do you use Goe Oil, or would you be tempted to by this? What are your favourite oils?

Empty Products- the September Edition

As I mentioned before, empties posts are one of my favourites to both write and read. I also secretly really enjoy hoarding my empty products throughout the month so that I can give myself a pat on the back for using something to the end and not getting bored of it halfway through use. #beautybloggerissues

 

Batiste Dry Shampoo in 'Cherry' - Cherry is my chosen 'flavour' for Batiste, I'm not a fan of the other scents apart from the 'Original- Clean and Classic' one. Since I've gone blonder the slight white residue that this can leave behind at times isn't as much of an issue which is a plus. I would like to try other dry shampoos, such as the new VO5 one, but I don't like to gamble my money on hair products that might not work for me.

Will I buy this again?

Already have!

 

John Frieda Sheer Blonde Moisturising Conditioner- This was a 50ml miniature that came in a set with it's matching shampoo and and hairspray for about a fiver. This conditioner lasted me about 4-5 hair washes which means it's the perfect travel size for a holiday. It was thick and luxurious but I didn't notice that it brightened my blonde.

Wil I buy this again?

I'd be tempted to buy the travel kit if I saw it again and was going on holiday, but I doubt I'd get this full sized as it didn't do much for brightening my blonde and I've been enjoying using his Full Repair range here.

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner- As I was sent this to review I used it during every wash so that I could see the full effects. I really like this product, I like it's scent and the way that it does seem to do what it says on the tub- after washing it out my hair feels healthy and soft and best of all there's no residue left behind. See my full review here.
Will I buy this again?
I will definitely buy this, and will probably use it every other wash to make it last longer, as it is an intensive treatment. 

Soap and Glory 'Clean On Me' Shower Gel- For a fiver you get a huge amount of shower gel that has lasted me well. I have always loved the sweet, soapy smell that this has, and love even more that I can smell it on my skin hours after showering. It's creamy, lathers well and feels more expensive than it is to wash with. I wish I hadn't looked on the ingredients list after I'd bought this, I think it's a shame that parabens have been included and while I know that I must use products that contain them everyday, I feel it's unnecessary in a body wash.

Will I buy this again?
If my judgement hadn't been a bit tainted I would have, but sadly I've been put off it a bit.

Mitchum 48 Hour Advanced Control aerosol deodarant in 'Powder Fresh'- This is the first and last time I'll include a deoderant in an empties post or it'll bore you all to death seeing the same one month after month. This is the best deoderant I have ever used and since discovering this a few years ago I've never looked back. It totally works, and isn't particularly harsh on the skin. Would recommend if you're looking to try a new one.
Will I buy this again?
Already have and always will!

Vichy One Step Cleanser- This 200ml bottle lasted me approx 6 weeks and was used twice a day. The milky fluid made a change to the stiff cream of Liz Earle's Cleanse and Polish, and while it was enjoyable to use, you had to work it more to remove makeup and dirt. I liked how gentle this was. Full review here.

Will I buy this again?

I think I will, but for now I've gone back to 'ole reliable Liz.

Estee Lauder 'Advanced Night Repair' serum- This is my second bottle finished, the 30ml lasts me about 3 months. Advanced Night Repair is a night time repair serum that works on mending any damage caused to the DNA within the skin cells to help prevent premature ageing. It's hard to put my finger on what this product is doing for my skin, but it just seems to improve the quality of it; when I meet women who have been using this for years, their mature skin looks plumper and in better condition compared to other women of their age. Ben has suffered with patches of eczema on his face for years- since using this in conjunction with the Advanced Night Repair eye cream he hasn't encountered any bad flair ups. You can see a mini review here.
Will I buy this agin?
Absolutely, my skincare routine feels lost when I don't have this to hand.

Estee Lauder 'DayWear' moisturiser- This is a fresh cucumber scented moisturiser with sun protection factor 15. I found this to be a good moisturiser as I didn't experience any dryness while I was using this, the only downside was that I found it took a while to absorb at times. I would prefer the oil free version next time.
Will I buy this again?
I've got a miniature of this from my Gift With Purchase so will use that up but I'm not sure that I would buy this again as I am developing a big interest in natural skincare at the moment.

BareMinerals Matte SPF15 foundation in 'fair c10'- At the time I bought this, it did wonders for me. My skin was a post-Christmas mess and I was yet to invest time and money into researching skin care. Every liquid foundation I was using was seperating on my skin after a couple of hours and looked awful, so I trotted over to the BM counter and tried this. It offers a light medium coverage and works with the natural oils of the skin over a few hours to develop into a beautiful, flawless skin finish, it's not often you can say a foundation looks better halfway through the day than when it was first applied. It got ignored for a while, and I used the last dregs of this as a setting powder this month, which also gives a nice finish.

Will I buy this again?

I think I will oneday in the future, but I do think it is pricey for the amount you get, and the fairest shade is still a wee bit off (it's not obvious though).

L'Oreal Lumi Magique 'Touch of Light Illuminating Pen' in 01.- I liked this as it was a good high street offering for those who can't fork out for YSL's Touche Eclat. I enjoyed using this, it offers a natural light coverage and does brighten the under eye area. 

Will I buy this again?

I think I would but it's not a must have for me.

Do you use any of these products? Make sure you link me to your empties posts as they are my favourite to read :-)

John Frieda Full Repair x2 Review

John Frieda Full Repair Deep Conditioner, £6.29 for 150ml. 
John Frieda Full Repair Perfect Ends Sheer Mist, £6.99 for 75ml

I have dyed my hair since I was 13, when I had my first set of highlights put in. Since then I have had white/lilac hair, yellow (don't ask), brown hair, black hair, ginger hair, and I've gone back full circle recently and opted for blonde highlights run through with my natural hair colour. We'll see how long this lasts...

10 whole years of hair abuse has seen my locks loose most of it's vitality, it's certainly had a time of it. Sorry hair!

I only started taking a proper interest in hair products when I placed a Bumble&Bumble and Ojon order in the spring. While I got on with the Ojon dry recovery range, I can't help but feel it doesn't quite justify that exortionate price tag and I have an on/off relationship with BB Salt Spray.

When I was offered to try two products from the John Frieda Full Recovery range I gladly accepted, I hoped that I'd see positive results so that I'd be able to repurchase in the future as they are reasonably priced and easily accessible. 

The Deep Conditioner is something my hair obviously needed. A scoop of this from the tub and massaged into the ends of my hair and left for a few minutes has made my hair smooth and soft, and also reduces the knots in my hair that I, annoyingly, always have after washing. It's scented with a fruity salon smell and it doesn't create that icky product build up that some conditioners can leave behind (no matter how long you rinse), resulting in an intensive mask that feels lightweight on the hair. I will continue to use this and will definitely buy this one again, I just wish it wasn't packaged in a tub- they're so awkward when you're in the shower and have wet hands!

The Perfect Ends Sheer Mist is an after wash treatment, that sprayed into towel dry hair maintains the smooth feel that the conditioner created and also offers protection against heat treatments. Similarly to the conditioner, there's no residue left behind that products in the same price range do, in my experience. As heat protection sprays go, this is a nice one, it seems to hold the blow dry well- my hair stays straighter for longer after using this.

I've been more than impressed with the Full Repair range and am thankful to have been sent them as they have helped my hair maintain a good condition and are within the price range that I am comfortable with spending on hair products. (I'm running really low on the Deep Conditioner already!)

I'd be really interested to try the Perfect Ends Deep Infusion Serum when I'm next in Boots or Superdrug, as I think it would accompany the Sheer Mist well by optimising protection and perhaps helping condition and smooth out my knots.

What hair repair products do you use? Will you be picking any of these Full Repair products up in the future?

If you want to watch some helpful how-to videos created to promote the John Frieda repair range, see my post here with a link to the videos. They've since added more for you to check out so it is worth subscribing to the channel. I'm off to learn how to do a hair bow now, laters!

My entry for TravelSupermarket's Beauty and the Beach Competition

I was nominated by lovely Fran from one of my favourite blogs Been There, Done That, Got The Lipstick to take part in a competition being hosted by TravelSupermarket.com

The competition is to document your favourite makeup, hair and nail look for a holiday, and the prize for the winner of each category is £500 cash!! The overall winner is the blogger who creates the best overall look for all three categories as determined by the industry judges, and the winner from that gets £1000 towards their next holiday!! Such an amazing and generous prize, and a holiday is much needed at the moment so the offer is too good to miss in my opinion.

Onto my entry....

I decided to create a simple makeup, hair and nail look that is perfect for a summer holiday, and more specifically this look is aimed towards a day at the beach/by the pool.

Makeup

On holiday, aside from looking fairly presentable poolside, my main priority is sun protection. SPF SPF SPF, I've learnt over the years on my fair skin is without a doubt very important to prevent uncomfortable and unsightly burns. I prepped my face with Avene's factor 50, my favourite product of the summer and a handy 30ml size which is great to travel with. 

With no need for foundation, I applied dabs of Collection 2000's Lasting Perfection Concealer (Fair) where it was needed to cover any uneven skintone and blemishes, and before this dried I popped some Benefit 'Watt's Up' champagne highlighter to my cheek and brow bones and down the centre of my nose and blended using my fingers. I did this so that my skin has that dewy and polished glow. This is a look a strive for whether I'm on holiday or not, however I'm a big believer in embracing your surroundings- there's really no point trying to mattify your skin with dustings of powder, for it'll slip and slide after half an hour in high heat or a dip in the pool.

I quickly filled in my brows using MAC's 'Showstopper' matte brown eyeshadow (limited edition) and applied one thin coat of L'Oreal Telescopic Waterproof mascara to my upper lashes. For my lips I popped on just a small amount of Benefit's 'Benetint Lip Balm', as it contains SPF15 and has a pretty rose tint to it, to help brighten up my face.

Hair 

For my hair I like it to be out of my face, so a fuss free hairstyle is a must. I parted my hair using a comb and parted my fringe into two parallel strands. I wrapped these over eachother, and added more hair to each strand. I continued this process until I reached my ear and secured it with a hair grip, pull your hair back into a ponytail (or a bun if you prefer) and spray with a little hairspray (I used John Frieda's Sheer Blonde Crystal Hold Shape & Shimmer hairspray).

This hairstyle is great for both clean hair and beach hair as it can work with natural, salted curls and is a versatile style that can take you from day to night just by adding a flower hairclip, or turning the ponytail into a top knot.

The hair and makeup takes me under ten minutes everytime, which is ideal as you don't want to be faffing around too long when you've got a holiday to get on with, nor do you want your suitcase to be weighed down with unnecessary products. Makeup and hair products included in this look amount to just 7 items, the makeup look was created using my fingers (make sure they're clean!), a hard angle brush for my eyebrows and my Shu Uemura eyelash curlers. For the hair, you'll need a hairbrush/comb and hair grips.

Nails

On a hot, summer holiday I love nothing more than playing around with colour. Colourful nails are a definite must and nail polish is a cheap and easy way to incorporate a trend. There's no denying that the colour of the season has been orange, so on top of Collection 2000's '2in1 Strengthener Base Coat' I applied a coat of L'Oreal Colour Riche nail polish in '303 Lush Tangerine' and followed it with my go-to topcoat- Sally Hansen's 'MegaShine'.

To add an extra dimension, an interesting topcoat such as Rococo's Gold Leaf topcoat in #7676 will instantly add a bit of holiday glamour to the nails.

As part of the competition I need to nominate 5 fellow beauty bloggers who I think would enjoy taking part in this competition... so I nominate:

1) Hannah from A Little Beauty Spot

2) Chantelle from Dolly Nails

3) Catrine from Unnaked Nails

4) Lydia from Florabundance

5) Beth from Birds Words

Don't forget you can check out the competition on Travel Supermarket's website HERE, where there's all the vital information you need to enter. Good luck!

Empty Products- the August Edition.

I've not done one of these before but found myself really enjoying other people's posts on what they've used up so am giving it a bash myself. Grab yourself a cup 'o tea, I hope you enjoy!

 17 Photo Flawless primer 

Since becoming a DoubleWear convert I have strayed away from using primers as I haven't found it completely necessary to use one due to the 15hr staying power of the foundation. I've owned this product for a while and repurchased many times as I found this primer to be of excellent quality particularly for the price and I noticed no difference between this one's performance and the infamous Smashbox Photo Finish primer. If you're looking for a cheap silicone based primer that will mattify the surface of your skin and absorb excess oils aswell as minimise the appearance of pores, then give this one a go!

Will I buy this again?

Oneday I'm sure I will, but I don't need it right now.

17 BB Blemish Balm, All In One Magic Makeup, SPF15.

I was so impressed by this, as always the quality of 17 makeup seems to surpass it's pricetag. In hindsight it was too deep for my skin but I did enjoy mixing it in with Illamasqua's Skin Base foundation for a while. The SPF15 is quite low considering this is meant to be a BB cream and while I didn't notice particular skincare benefits, it offers a great coverage and leaves the skin looking so fresh and healthy. Full review here.

Will I buy this again?

Whilst I recommend this, it's not a product I need or want at the moment so I probably wouldn't.

Revlon Colorstay Makeup in 'Ivory'

In a bid to use stuff up before I moved house, I used up the last few drops of foundation after it sitting at the back of the drawer for a few months. This was a foundation I absolutely loved last year, despite it's initial stench of emulsion paint this foundation offers medium, buildable coverage and lasts really well. Pretty much a DoubleWear 'dupe' on the highstreet, plus it comes in really pale shades- wahoo!

Will I buy this again?

I will certainly buy this again, it's a good foundation to have 'just in case'. 

CHANEL Poudre Universelle Libre AKA Natural Finish Loose Powder  

A full review can be found here if you wish to know more detail however I'll state a couple of points about it. I love how fine this setting powder is (it's like dust!) and the amount you get is so generous that this product lasted me 6 fabulous months. The grate that controls the product can be a little wasteful at times and the packaging is huuuge and bulky!- Definitely one you want to depot if going away for the weekend! 

Will I buy this again? 

For now, no. I do think there are better powders out there for perhaps a cheaper price. I did love having a bit of Chanel luxury on my face everyday, though and it was a great match!

MAC bronzer in 'Bronze'

Yeah this is a pretty good bronzer, it's matte, fairly soft and not too dramatic on fair skin. You get a fair amount of product and don't need to use much, but I haven't felt the need to use bronzer much and so just used up the last scraps of it this month.

Will I buy this again?

Unlikely.

Avene Very High Protection Cream Factor 50.

I have given this a full review here and stated my love for this product. I believe it is a must have for everyone, but especially fair skinned ladies such as myself. It absorbs well and keeps me completely protected and burn free on those sunny days.

Will I buy this again?

Already have, haven't I!

Liz Earle Hot Cloth Cleanse and Polish

I'm always a little bit sad when this runs out as I do think it is a brilliant cleanser, and it has done wonders for my skin. I've recently been using Vichy's 3in1 cleanser instead, however I don't like not having one of these in a drawer somewhere as a 'back up.'

Will I buy this again?

Absolutely, it's a must have!

Lee Stafford Flat Iron Protection Shine Mist

I've been using this for a long time as I think it does the job alright for the price. As I've said numerous times before, I'm terrible at hair and don't really know much about it or what it needs, but yeah, this seems good.

Will I buy this again?

Most probably, plus I like the sweet musky smell!

Cutex Nourishing Nail Polish Remover

This is my standard, go-to nail polish remover. After the disaster that was Sally Hansen Acetone Free Nail Polish Remover I slapped myself on the wrist for even daring to try another. This works and does the job efficiently, and doesn't smell too bad.

Will I buy this again?

I'll never betray you again, Cutex. (Already repurchased)

Elie Saab 'Le Parfum'

I've actually got through several samples of this as the 5ml tubes do not last me long considering I like to soak myself in the stuff! This is such a me scent at the moment, I could literally bathe in the stuff and I'm hoping to have a full sized bottle in my possession ASAP! Elegant, feminine, floral. Lovely.

Will I buy this agin? 

Yes please!

 

If you have any questions about any of the products mentioned, you can leave a comment below or tweet me @emilydimplesxo. Do you use any of these?

1960's beehive with John Frieda

I've recently been alerted to this set of videos presented by John Frieda hair stylists Jake Davis and Giles Robinson to help simplify hairstyles (including the ever popular top knot) and blow drys whilst promoting the John Frieda Full Repair range which has been available for a few months now.

Today I just thought I'd show you the videos and tell you how I got on with trying their 1960s beehive look.

Are these videos really hairstying made easy? 
I've said here how I'm not exactly skilled when it comes to hair, always opting for easy styles each day so it was nice to give something new a go for a change.

I found the step by step video very informative and it did actually break the hairstyle down into manageable chunks that even a hairstyling dummie like me could manage.
Overall, I was quite pleased with my effort, opting for a more modern take on the beehive by wearing it a bit messy. I chose to pair it with sixties inspired makeup too! I would really recommend the videos if you were looking for a bit of help with a hair dilemma or wanted to try something new. Make more please, John Frieda!

1960's Beehive: click
TopKnot: click
Full Body Blow Dry: click
Perfectly Straight Blow Dry: click

Check back soon as I'll have a review post on two of the Full Repair products within the next couple of weeks.

Please note: I was contacted to post about the videos on my blog so that you guys can watch them, however it was my choice  to try the beehive hairstyle myself so that I could give my own opinion of how easy I found the tutorial in the video, therefore my positive feedback is my own opinion, as always!

P.S. I'm moving house today so I may be absent for a little while, as soon as we have t'internetz connected I'll be back! :-)